Vince Guaraldi

Composer / Jazz Musician / Pianist

Born: 17 July 1928

Died: 6 February 1976 (heart attack)

Birthplace: San Francisco, California

Best known as: The jazz pianist who wrote the music for Charlie Brown

Vince Guaraldi described himself as "a reformed boogie-woogie piano player," but he is better known as the composer of cheery jazz music for the Charlie Brown television specials of the 1960s and 1970s. Guaraldi came up through the beatnik-era San Francisco music scene of the 1950s, eventually forming a succession of jazz trios. His 1962 recording "Cast Your Fate To the Wind" was a surprise hit on national pop music charts. He recorded with Cal Tjader and Bola Sete among many others. Despite his successes in pure jazz, Guaraldi is remembered for his scores for the "Peanuts" animated TV specials, beginning with A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965.

Extra credit:

Guaraldi’s trio filled in for the Stanford Band at halftime of the 1963 Stanford-Oregon football game.